Bartolo Colon is officially back with the Mets and Jeurys Familia couldn’t be happier

FLUSHING, N.Y., December 18, 2015 – Bartolo Colon is officially back with the Mets and Jeurys Familia couldn’t be happier.

“I rely on him for so much,” said Familia, who tied the club record with 43 saves in 2015. “I try to talk to him every day, whether it is in the clubhouse or during batting practice. I’m glad he’s back with us again.”

Colon officially signed his one-year contract today. In order to make room on the 40-man roster, the Mets designated catcher Johnny Monell for assignment.

“I’ve had a great experience in New York,” Colon said through an interpreter. “The fans are great, being part of the postseason was great. I’ll do anything Terry wants me to do this year, start or relieve. I just want to help us get back to the World Series”

Colon and Hansel Robles are working out daily at Bartolo Colon Stadium in Altamira, D.R.

“Hansel had a great rookie season in the majors and he’s working hard now,” Colon added. “I expect him to be a key part of our bullpen this season.”

The three-time All-Star (1998, 2005 and 2013) and 2005 American League Cy Young Award winner will enter the 2016 season with 218 career wins, which is the third-most among Dominican-born pitchers behind Juan Marichal (243) and Pedro Martinez (219).

Colon, 42, went 14-13 with a 4.16 ERA (90 earned runs/194.2 innings) in 33 games (31 starts) for the Mets in 2015. Colon established a career-best 31.0-inning scoreless streak from August 26-September 10. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, his scoreless innings streak was the longest within one season in major league history by a pitcher age 42 or older. Overall, the 31.0-inning scoreless streak is tied for the third-longest in Mets history. As part of the streak, Colon tossed 17.0 scoreless innings over two starts during the week of August 31-September 6 and was named the NL Player of the Week for his efforts.

His 14 wins were tied for seventh-most in the National League in 2015. Colon was 13-3 with a 2.86 ERA (36 earned runs/113.1 innings) vs. the NL East last season. His 13 victories against teams in his own division led the major leagues and no other National League pitcher had more than eight wins against teams in his own division.

Colon accumulated 15 starts without a walk during the 2015 regular season, which was the most in the majors and also set a new franchise record. He went 48.2 consecutive innings without allowing a walk from April 12-May 20 and overall walked 2.9 percent of the batters he faced in 2015 (24 walks/815 batters). That mark was second-best in the majors and his 1.11 walks per nine innings rate led all qualifying major league starters.

During the postseason, Colon came out of the bullpen for seven appearances and went 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA (two earned runs/8.2 innings).

In his two seasons with the Mets, Colon pitched in a total of 64 regular-season games with 62 of those appearances being starts. He’s made at least 30 starts in each of the last three seasons and reached the 30-start plateau 11 total times in his career. That total is the second-most among active pitchers.

Among active pitchers, Colon ranks first in wins (218) and shutouts (13), second in complete games (36) and second in strikeouts (2,237). For his 18-year career, Colon is 218-154 with a 3.97 ERA (1,314 earned runs/2,980.2 innings pitched) in 475 games (467 starts).